BEAT-Lupus Clinical Trial - Now Recruiting

[Paul_Howard]

Hi everyone,

Researchers from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are asking for people with systemic lupus erythematosus to consider joining a clinical trial that is testing a combination of rituximab and belimumab as a treatment for the disease.

Professor Mike Ehrenstein, University College London (UCL), is the lead of the New Therapies Clinic for Inflammatory Arthritis at UCL Hospitals and is the Chief Investigator for the study.

He said: “The trial involves testing two relatively new treatments, rituximab and belimumab, which target those cells attacking the tissues and could stop the disease in its tracks. We are testing whether this treatment is better than the conventional treatments we have at the moment.”

Lupus patients can find out if they are eligible for the trial by speaking to their regular lupus doctor and asking to be referred on to the trial.

Sherron who is a participant for the trial said: “I saw my consultant and asked about possible alternative ways the disease could be managed, not necessarily using steroids, and I was put in touch with doctors on the lupus trial. The trial involves monthly check-ups with the same consultant where you get to talk about any symptoms, which is great.”

She added: “In the past I had given blood but once I had been diagnosed, I knew I couldn’t do that. Being involved in the trial was one of the ways I thought I could give back - I can help others and help the research develop further.”

The BEAT-Lupus study is funded by Versus Arthritis in partnership with the UCL Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and GSK. It will recruit 50 patients from participating lupus specialist centres across the UK.

To find out more, talk to your lupus doctor, visit the Beat-Lupus trial website - beatlupus.uk/ - or watch the video where patient Sherron and Professor Ehrenstein explain their involvement in the BEAT-Lupus trial;

youtube.com/watch?v=lFC22f3...(Not working as expected?)

[Penguintaz]

Hi Paul,

I will absolutely ask if I can take part, is there a time frame you have to sign up by, I could not see it on the website, I don't see my rheumatologist till the 18th is all.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Penguintaz]

Hi Penguintaz ,

I don't think they have a concrete time frame. It will most likely be open until they have managed to recruit enough eligible participants - this can be very difficult in trials like this for lupus. I'm certain you'll be fine until the 18th.

[Penguintaz in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thanks Paul, I e-mailed my rheumatologist and sadly I am not eligible due to my IGA deficiency. Is there another way to help?

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Penguintaz]

Hi Penguintaz . I'm sorry to hear that. A lot of these clinical trials can have very strict entry requirements which is one of the reasons they struggle to recruit enough people. I'm not certain that there are any other open opportunities for this trial, but we will post about others we become aware of. It's also worth letting your consultant know that you are willing to enroll in clinical trials because then they can inform you about anything that may be suitable for you that they hear of.

[Penguintaz in reply to Paul_Howard]

Alright Thank you!

[Serser]

I've emailed the link to my rheumatologist and asked him if he'll refer me - fingers crossed.

Thank you for posting this Paul

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Serser]

Hi Serser ,

Let us know how you get on and what they say.

[kezzie]

Hi Paul,

I live in Hendon, London so am able to get to two of the participating hospitals quite easily. I have emailed the Beat lupus team and coincidentally I see my rheumatologist on monday so I am definitely asking.

Kezzie

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to kezzie]

Let us know how you get on!